Key Facts
- Categorized as a Apollo-class Asteroid
- Comparable in size to a football field
- Will pass within 6,496,221 km of Earth in 2026
- Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
- Not a Potentially Hazardous Object
- See orbit simulation
Overview
2004 MO3 is a very small asteroid whose orbit crosses the orbit of Earth. NASA JPL has classified 2004 MO3 as a "Near Earth Asteroid" due to its orbit's proximity to Earth, but it is not considered potentially hazardous because computer simulations have not indicated any imminent likelihood of future collision.
2004 MO3 orbits the sun every 500 days (1.37 years), coming as close as 0.82 AU and reaching as far as 1.65 AU from the sun. Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, 2004 MO3 is probably between 0.063 to 0.282 kilometers in diameter, making it a small to average asteroid, very roughly comparable in size to a football field.
Close Approaches
2004 MO3's orbit is 0.01 AU from Earth's orbit at its closest point. This means that there is a wide berth between this asteroid and Earth at all times.
2004 MO3 has 22 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| Jan. 17, 2026 | 6,496,221 | 10.227 |
| June 9, 2030 | 11,264,525 | 7.324 |
| Feb. 7, 2041 | 17,089,781 | 6.568 |
| June 22, 2045 | 7,496,646 | 10.792 |
| April 7, 2056 | 27,493,548 | 8.268 |
| Jan. 17, 2067 | 7,602,340 | 10.506 |
| June 4, 2071 | 14,677,017 | 6.863 |
| Jan. 26, 2082 | 10,644,253 | 7.456 |
| June 19, 2086 | 1,905,141 | 9.467 |
| April 4, 2097 | 27,494,264 | 8.285 |
| Jan. 20, 2108 | 5,813,170 | 9.989 |
| June 10, 2112 | 11,072,021 | 7.348 |
| Feb. 5, 2123 | 15,340,844 | 6.683 |
| June 24, 2127 | 6,054,626 | 10.475 |
| April 13, 2138 | 27,283,483 | 8.229 |
| Jan. 23, 2149 | 5,429,355 | 8.827 |
| June 21, 2153 | 2,816,834 | 9.757 |
| Jan. 12, 2160 | 27,168,253 | 14.730 |
| June 3, 2164 | 15,430,389 | 6.828 |
| April 22, 2175 | 26,459,144 | 8.049 |
| March 16, 2186 | 25,748,827 | 7.875 |
| Feb. 4, 2197 | 14,257,751 | 6.841 |
Images and Observations
2004 MO3's orbit is determined by observations dating back to June 21, 2004. It was last officially observed on Aug. 25, 2015. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 142 observations used to determine its orbit.
Accessibility and Exploration
2004 MO3 can be reached with a journey of 362 days. This trajectory would require a delta-v of 10.062 km/s. To put this into perspective, the delta-v to launch a rocket to Low-Earth Orbit is 9.7 km/s. There are 4,886 potential trajectories and launch windows to this asteroid.
See more at the NHATS Mission Trajectories table for 2004 MO3.
Similar Objects
These objects have orbits that share similar characteristics to the orbit of 2004 MO3:References
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or view a random objectOrbital Elements
- Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
- Semi-major axis: 1.232 AU
- Eccentricity: 0.336
- Inclination: 2.55°
- Longitude of Ascending Node: 252.54°
- Argument of Periapsis: 297.97°
- Mean Anomaly: 63.82°
Physical Characteristics
- Diameter: ~0.173 km
- Magnitude: 22.2
Derived Characteristics
- Orbit Period: 500 days (1.37 years)
- Avg. Orbit Speed: 26.81 km/s
- Aphelion Distance: 1.65 AU
- Perihelion Distance: 0.82 AU
Map Comparison
Orbit Simulation
Sky Map
The position of 2004 MO3 is indicated by a ◯ pink circle. Note that the object may not be in your current field of view. Use the controls below to adjust position, location, and time.
Size Rendering
The below comparison is an artistic rendering that uses available data on the diameter of 2004 MO3 to create an approximate landscape rendering with New York City in the background. This approximation is built for full-resolution desktop browsers. Shape, color, and texture of asteroid are imagined.
